Fluid lift for liquids



1931 E. E. CLAYTOR 1,819,994

FLUID LIFT FOR LIQUIDS Original Filed March 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug.18, 1931. E. E. CLAYTOR FLUID LIFT FOR LIQUIDS Original Filed March 4,1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 awuwntoz gi I E. E. CLAYTOR 1,819,994

FLUID LIFT FOR LIQUJIDS Original Filed March 4, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 6Sheets-Sheet 4 INVE TOR.

ATTORNEY I E. E. CLAYTOR FLUID LIFT FOR LIQUIDS Original Filed March 4,1925 Aug. 18, 1931.

Aug. 18, 1931. E. E. CLAYTOR FLUID LIFT FOR LIQUIDS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5Original Filed March 4, 1925 INVENTOR. Z. BY M.

A TTORNEY Aug. 18,1931. E. ELCLAYTOR 1,819,994

FLUID LIFT FOR LIQUIDS Original Filed March 4, 1925 6 Sheets-Sh t, 6 I

Q A AT's'OiNEY Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWINE. CLAYTOR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES PAUL MACKIE, OF

' NEWARK, NEW JERSEY FLUID LIFT FOR LIQUIDS Application filed March 4,1925, Serial No. 13,011. Renewed October 21, 1926.

This invention relates to the method and giant includes a tube -7 whichis rotatably apparatus for lifting liquids.

The principal object of the invention is to elevate liquids to greatheights if desired by the utilization of the force exerted b fluid underpressure, and by the utilization of the force developed by the expansionof a fluid under pressure.

As illustrative of the method and of the means for elevatingthe liquidTwill describe the invention in conjunction with the elevation of oil,for instance, from a well, and will, for convenience of description,describe the operation in connection with the use of air. However, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited to this application,or to the particular elevating medium.

In the drawings, which illustrate the particular embodiment selected forthe purpose 2 of description,

Figures 1, 1A and 1B constitute a sectional view of the complete device;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the swab employed;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the means for controlling the flow ofair;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 44 of Figure 3; s

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the pump for increasing the effectivelevel or submergence of the liquid to be raised;

Figure 6 is a similar view taken at right angles to Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view on line 77 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 6; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view showing another form of my device.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated includes a well casing 1,which is adapted to be lowered into a well and sealed therein by acasing'shoe 2, in the usual manner. The apparatus which is adapted to beinserted in or withdrawn from the well through the well casing by meansof an elevator, the links 3 of which are shown in the drawings, includesa tubing head 4. A relatively large tube 5 is attached at 6 to thistubing head and carries a giant at its lower end. This supported on thelower end of the tube 5. The means for supporting the giant rotatably onthe lower end of the tube 5 includes a sleeve 8 which is attached to thetube 5 by a collar 9. This sleeve 8 carries a race 10 for anti-frictionbearings, which, in the embodiment illustrated, are shown as balls 11.An upper race 12 carries a ring 13 which in turn carries a ring 14,between which rings and the sleeve 8 a packing 15 is disposed. The tube7 is secured to the lower end of the ring 14. 4

A relatively smaller tube 16 is attached at 17 to the head 4, providinga space 18 between itself and the tube 5. This tube 16 extends withinthe tube 5, and is provided with a telescopic joint, the sections beingurged apart by a spring 19. This yielding telescopic joint is fprovidedto take up the shock of impact 0 the apparatus with the botgom of thewell when it is being 10were The outer tube 5 is sealed at its lower endwith respect to this next adjacent tube 16,

- but is permitted to rotate with respect thereto. This sealing iseflected by a packin 20, which is confined between glands 21 an 22,carried by the lower end of the tube 5. The tube 16 carries at its lowerend, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, a displacementpump26, the purpose of which will later be described. A relatively smallertube 27 is carried by the head 4, being attached thereto at 28. Thistube 27 extends within the tube 16, and, being of less diameter than thelatter, forms a space 29 between itself and the tube 16. This tube 27 isprovided with a telescopicjoint 30, the sections being urged intolimited telescopic arrangement by resilient means such as the s ring 31,which permits relative movement etween the sectlons of the two when theapparatus .is being lifted from the well, and thereby absorbs the shockincident to the lifting.

The inner tube 27 is attached at 32 to the pump 26, so that it mayreceive the liquid from the pump while the latter is in operation. mu

A nozzle 33 is pivoted at 34 to the outer tube 7 of the giant, and isprovided with a head 35 which is divided into two chambers disposed uponopposite sides of the tube 7. These chambers have ports 36 therein,which, when the nozzle is in its horizontal position, register withsimilar ports in the tube 7. It is, of course, to be understood that inorder to have the preferably fluid-tight joint between these ports it isnecessary that the contacting surfaces be complemental. This effect maybe produced by making the tube 7 rectangular in cross section and bymaking the adjacent faces of the head of the nozzle flat and adapted tocontact with the flat faces of the tube. When, however, the nozzle isswung to a vertical or downwardly-extending position, the ports 36 inthe head 35 are moved out of registration with the ports in the tube 7and the unbroken surfaces of the head are moved into position to coverthe ports in the tube 7.

In order that the nozzle may be automatically raised and supported inits raised or horizontal position, I have attached to the head 35 a rod37, which operates within a housing 38, and is normally moved upwardlyby a spring 39 therein. This spring is prevented from operating untilthe desired t1me by a pin 40, which maintains it under com; pression.The details of the construction of this portion of the mechanism are setforth completely in my Patent No. 1,612,611, dated Dec. 28, 1926.

Located above the nozzle 33 is a statlonary nozzle 41, which is adaptedto be closed by a cap 42 having a relatively small orifice therein.

The tube 16 has communication with an inlet 43, which extends to asuitable source of supply of compressed air, as, for lnstance, to theoutlet of an air compressor A, so that the space 29 between the tube 27and the tube 16 is supplied with air under pressure, Moreover, the tube5 is supplied with a mining solution, that is to say, one which iscapable of separating oil from the oil-bearing sand, when ejected fromthe nozzles of the giant, through a suitable connection 44 to a sourceof suppl B, the solution being conveyed to the nozz cs 33 and 41 throughthe tube 5, and the giant tube 7. The air under pressure is conveyedthrough the tube 16 to the pump 26 so as to operate the same to elevatethe liquid in the inner tube 27 to a point where it may be picked up andfurther elevated by means which will later be described.

This pump is siibstantially tubular in form so that it may be loweredinto the well through the well casing, and is provided with a pair ofinlet ports 26 and 27 for the compressd air. This air is adapted toescape alternately into chambers 31' and 38 through ports 30 and 37 whenthese ports are alternately uncovered by slide valves 28' and 35 each ofwhich valves in one position opens the adjacent inlet port and in theother position opens the adjacent exhaust port 29 or 36. The chambers31' and 38 are adapted to receive the liquid from the pool throughvalves 32 and 39' by gravity. The liquid will be expelled from thesechambers31 and 38 through valves 45 and thus by the air pressureelevated in the tube 27. In order that the slide valves 28' and 35' mabe moved to alternately cover the ports 30 and float valve 34 when thelevel of In order that the liquid may be raised 1 from the level whichit assumes either because of its own level within the well, or becauseof its elevation by the artificial means at the lower end of the innertube 27, I have provided an automatically operable swab whichreciprocates within the inner tube 27 and-lifts the liquid therefrom.This swab includes a mandrel 46 which carries a acking 47 to seal thejoint between the swa and the tube in the usual manner, that is to say,by the pressure of the liquid exerted on the packing 37 through theperforations 48 in the mandrel. The lower end of the mandrel is providedwith an opening 49, while at the upper end there is a series of openings50. The provision of openings 49 and 50 permits the liquid to flowthrough the swab. However, the opening at the lower end of the mandrelis adapted to be closed by a valve 51 which cooperates with a valve seat52. This valve 51 is mounted on a valve rod 53, the upper end of whichprotrudes beyond the mandrel and is provided wth a buffer 54. The valveis normally urged into its closed position, that is to say, on to theseat 52, by means such as a spring 55, but is at times held in its openposition by the engagement of releaseable means 56. This means in theform illustrated in the drawings includes flat springs which are adaptedto be compressed to permit their passage through an opening 57 in aspider 58, which guides the lower end of the valve rod, or to beexpanded to engage the lower surface of this spider to retain the valvein its open position.

r In order that this valve may be balanced so that it will be subject tooperation by the action of the spring 55, I have secured to the valverod 53 a piston 59 which operates in the upper end of the mandrel as acylinder. A port 60, having outlets 61 below the valve 51, extendsthrough the valve rod and communicates at 62 with the cylinder above thepiston 59. The area of the upper surface of the piston 59 and the areaof the lower surface of the valve 51 are equal, substantially, toproduce a balancing effect.

Thus, when the valve 51 is moved downwardly by impact with the buffer54, it will be locked in its open position by the locking means 56, andthe fluid permitted'to flow through the openings 49 and 50, at the sametime the fluid will pass through the port 60 so as to exert pressure onthe piston 59. When the locking means 56 is released the spring 55 willautomatically close the valve 51 against the seat 52, and the flow ofliquid through the mandrel stopped, and the liquid which is locatedabove the swab will be main tained in such position.

In order that the valve 51 may be closed when the swab reachesthelowermost extent of its downward travel, I have provideda trip 63into which the lower end of the valve rod 53 descends. The wall of thetrip 63 is of inverted frusto-conical shape, so that as the valve roddescends into the trip the springs 56 will be compressed to an extentsufiicient to permit them to move upwardly through the opening 57 in thespider 58, and thus permit the operation of the spring 55.

In order that the valve 51 may be opened when the swab reaches theuppermost extent of its travel, I have pro ded an abutment 64 within thetubing head, which abutment is engaged by the buffer 54 at the upper endof the valve rod 53. The result of this engagement is the opening of thevalve 51 and the movement of the valve rod, and the locking springs 56through the spider 58, to an extent suflicient to permit said lockingsprings to come into operation, that is to say, to engage the lowersurface of the spider 58.

In order that the swab may be automatirally moved upwardly after theswab has.

been submerged, or, in other words, after a quantity of the liquid hasbeen accumulated above the swab and the valve in the swab closed, and inorder that it may be permitted to move downwardly after the liquid hasbeen ejected from the tube 27, I have provided the following means:Communication is established between the tube 16, which conducts thepressure medium from the source of supply, and the tube 27, in which theliquid isfelevated, by means of ports 65 and 66, the former leading intoa cylinder 67 from the tube 16 and the latter leading from the cylinderinto the tube 27. In this cylinder 67 a valve 68 is adapted to reciprocate to assume positions to destroy communication between the ports 65and 66, or to ermit the establishment of communication etween the two.This valve is normally urged into a position to destroy communicationbetween the ports by automatic means, such as a spring 69, and isprovided with a valve stem 70, which extends upwardly through the headof the cylinder 67 and is provided with a buffer 71. This buffer 71 isdisposed in the path of movement of the swab, and is adapted to beengaged by the lower end of the same'in the downward movcmcnt of theswab which engagement moves the valve downwardly against the action ofthe spring 69 and permits the establishment of communication between theports 65 and 66.

In order that the pressure on both sides of the valve 68 may be equal,andvthe valve therefore balanced, and in order that the cylinder may atthe same time be kept clear of any foreign material which would impedethe operation of the valve, or of the spring 69, I have provided thecylinder 67 with an orifice 72 which admits liquid into the cylinder67below the valve. The face of the valve adjacent the orifice 72 issubstantially equal in area to the face of the valve remote from saidorifice and the valve is provided with ducts 7 3, which permit theliquid to pass from the cylinder 67 through the valve so that the liquidexerts its pressure against both faces of the valve to an equal extent.Thus the spring 69 will be relieved of the necessity of working againstan unbalanced valve, as will also the swab. Furthermore, in the movementof the valve 68 within the cylinder, the liquid is drawn into andexpelled from the cylinder so that the cylinder is effectively scouredor freed from any foreign material which might otherwise impede theaction of the valve or of the spring.

When the device is to be used merely as an elevating device without themining feature the arrangement is such as shown inFigure 9, the tube 5of the arrangement already described being omitted. In this constructionthe liquid is ejected by the following means:

A pipe 74 having an open end, and a series of ports 75, is mounted onthe tubing head and forms in effect an extension of the tube 27. Asleeve 76 having ports 77 therein, adapted to be moved into and out ofregister with the ports 75 of the pipe 74, is mounted to slide upon saidpipe. The upper end of this sleeve 76 is provided with a surface 78against which the liquid which is ejected from the tube 27 is adapted toimpinge, and is provided with a second surface 79 between which and thefirst surface communication is established through an orifice 80. Thearea of the impinging surface 78 bears a definite relation to the areaof the surface 79, the surface 79 being in area greater than the surface78, so that while the liquid impinging against the smaller surface 78gives the sleeve an initial movement, the pressure of the liquid on thelarger surface 79 will give it a second movement, or will complete themovement initiated upon the contact of the liquid with the first sur-'face 78. The purpose of the relatively small orifice 80 is so that theliquid, after giving the initial movement to the sleeve by the pressurewhich it exerts upon the surface 78, will pass slowly into the chamber81 and against the surface 79, the result being a period of rest in thetravel of the sleeve for a purpose which will later appear.

Prior to the movement of the sleeve 7 6 the ports T5 and T7 are alignedwith each other, but during the initial movement caused by the pressureexerted against the surface 78 this communication or alignment of theports is destroyed, and the liquid exerts its pressure against thesurface 78. After a momenpressed air which may be built up between ter.

said surface and the upper surface of the liquid to give the sleeve asecond movement into a position where the ports again regis- The sleeve76 operates in a housing 82, preferably rectangular in cross section,which may be formed as part of the tubing head. The sleeve 76 isnormally urged downwardly into a position where the ports in the sleevealign with the ports in the pipe 74 by compressible means such as aspring 83. The pressure which is exerted by such means against thesleeve 7 4 may be regulated to adapt the sleeve to be moved upwardly byany desired pressure. When a spring such as shown in the drawings isused, this regulation may be made by means of an adjusting screw 84.

Disposed below the pipe 74, or in other words, adjacent the upper end ofthe tube 27 is an abutment 85, against which the buffer 54 on the end ofthe valve rod 53 of the valve 51 may impin e to open the valve againstthe action of t e spring 55. The cylinder 82 communicates with areceiving tank 86, through the conduit 87, this tank being incommunication with the tube 27 through the ports of the pipe 74. and thesleeve 76, when these ports are in alignment with each other. An airexhaust conduit 88 extends from the tank 86 and may be connected to acompressor (not shown) which supplies the air under pressure to the airinlet 43. This tank is also provided with an outlet 89 which is adaptedto be closed by a float valve 90.

Of course it is desirable to have the mining solution which is ejectedfrom the nozzles at a relatively high temperature to free the oil fromthe inert material as described in my Patent No. 1,612,611, andirrespective of the pressure of the air which is used to lift the liquidit is desirable to have the temperature of this air relatively high. Insome instances, however, it is desirable to use air at a relatively lowpressure, While at others is is desirable to use it at a relatively hi hpressure. Into a tank 91 a pipe 89 discharges the mixture of oil andmining solution through a receiving tank. 86 and a pipe 87 having a heatexchanger 88' therein. The constituents of the liquid and the solidmaterial which is entrained therewith arrange themselves according totheir specific gravity, and the mining solution, having separated fromthe oil, and the solid or" inert material, is withdrawn through i a pipe92 and conveyed thereby to the solution inlet 44, where it is returnedto the apparatus. The air which is exhausted from the pipe 88' of thereceiving tank 86 (which is of the construction shown in Figure 9) iscarried to an air compressor 93 having its temperature reduced prior toits entrance into the compressor by a suitable cooler 94. The air beingcompressed by the compressor 93 is lead to the air inlet 43 by a pipe95. During the compression of the air its temperature is, as a result ofthe compression, raised to such a degree that it will enter theapparatus at the desired working temperature. Of course during the ascent of the liquid in the tube 27 it will absorb some of the heat of theair in the tube 16, and the temperature of the liquid will therefore beraised to such a degree that it is desirable to reduce it. This may bedone by the heat exchanger 88, which may be used in conjunction with theinlet-pipe 87, of the settling tank. The reduction of this temperatureassures the re-entry of the mining solution into the apparatus at alower temperature so that in its descent through the tube 5 and theabsorption of heat incidental to its passage through this tube, itstemperature will not be raised beyond one desirable in operation.

Under some conditions at least it is desirable to raise the temperatureof the air after it passes from the compressor, and to provide for theraising of the temperature of the air I contemplate the interpolation ofa re-heater 97 in the pipe 43, which extends from the compressor to theapparatus.

In operation, the mining solution is conveyed by the pipe 92 from thesettling tank 91 to the inlet 44. This solution is under pressure due tothe head created by the solution stored in the tank 91, and to thepressure in the system. The solution is conveyed by the pipe 5 to thenozzles 33 and 41, the nozzle 33 having assumed its operative orhorizontal position after the creation of a chamber in the well in themanner such as described in by Patent 1,612,611 hereinbefore referredto. The ejection of the mining solution from the nozzle 41 causes therotation of the tube 7 of the giant and consequently the rotation of thenozzle 33. The solution ejected from these nozzles 41 and 33 frees theoil and inert material from the wall of the chamber travel and, in thatevent, the pump 26 is employed to elevate the liquid above the swab. Thepurpose of the pump 26 is to raise the liquid sufiiciently to submergethe swab. If there is suflicient head of liquid in the well to cause itto rise high enough to submerge the swab, the pump may be dispensedwith. When thevswab is at the lowermost point of its travel, the valve68 is held open thereby,

that is to say, is moved against the tension of the spring 69 so thatthe air is permitted to enter the tube 27 through the ports 65 and 66below the swab. At this time the valve 51 of the swab is closed, itsclosing being efi'ected at the end of its downward travel by theengagement of the springs 56 with the trip 63. The entry of the airbelow the swab, because of its pressure, moves the swab upwardly,

carrying before the swab the liquid which forms a column above it in thetube 27 During the upward travel of the swab and the column of liquidabove it, the air in the tube 27 which is arranged above the column ofliquid is expelled through the aligned ports 75 and 77 of the pipe 7 4E,and the sleeve 72. When the liquid impacts with the surface 78 of thesleeve 76 the sleeve is moved upwardly and the aligned ports moved outof alignment so that the sleeve forms in effect a closure for theperforated pipe 7 4.

During the period of time the sleeve 76 remains in this position, andwhen it is thus positioned, the swab has not yet reached the abutment85. The pressure'below the swab in the tube 27 is at this time equal tothe pressure in the tube 16, so that the valve 51 automatically closes.Furthermore, the pressure on the liquid above the swab when the sleeve76 closes the ports in the pipe 7 4 forces the liquid into the chamber81 through the orifice 80, so that it will exert pressure upon thesurface 79 or the air compressed against said surface, and cause thesleeve 76 to rise into such position that the sleeve will uncover theports 75 by aligning its own ports 77 therewith. At this time the valve51 is closed and air under pressure is confined below the swab and abovethe liquid which occupies the lower end of the inner tube 27. Thesubsequent expansion of this air causes the upward movement of the swaband the ejection of the liquid through the aligned ports 75 and 77, andinto the tank 86 until the buifer 54 on the upper end of the rod 53 ofthe valve 51 engages the abutment 85 at which time the valve 51 will beopened. When the valve 51 is opened, the air behind the swab escapesthrough the aligned ports 75 and 7 7, and the swab automatically returnsto its lowermost position for a repetition of the cycle.

The air which escapes from the pipe 74 both before and after the escapeof the liquid from this pipe, passes into the tank 86 and escapesthrough the pipe 88 to the compressor 93 being,as hereinbefore stated,cooled prior to its passage into the compressor. It is then compressedand returned in a heated condition to the air inlet 43 to again be used.

It is, of course, to be realized that in the treatment of some oilsthere may be some condensible vapors formed, and these of course willpass ofi withthe air and be condensed in the cooling and compressionsystem, and may be recovered therefrom.

WVhen the air passes through the tank 86,

the liquid level therein is relatively low and the valve 90 closed, butas the liquid passes into the tank the level rises, and the float valveopensthe tank so that the liquid ma pass to the settling tank 91 asprevious y described.

It is to be noted that immediately upon the pressure being released fromthe head of the sleeve 76, the sleeve returns to its initial position,that is to say, it is lowered and the ports in the sleeve align with theports in the pipe.

When a pump 26 of the design shown in Figures 5 and 6 is used, the airpasses through the ports 26', and 27 from the tube 27 alternately intothe pump. 7

When the valve 28 is in the position illustrated in F igure-5 of thedrawin s, it closes the exhaust port 29 and opens t e port 30 into thechamber 31'. This air pressure ejects the liquid in this chamber, theinlet valve 32 being closed, through the spring-pressed valve 45 intothe lower end 33' of the tube 7 through which it is raised by the airpressure to create an artificial liquid level so that the propersubmergence of the swab may be had. When the level in the chamber 31'reaches a predetermined point, the float valve 34' opens the duct 35 andpermits air to flow behind the valve 29. This valve, being balanced bythe air in the port 26, moves the valve 29 to a position where it willclose the port 27 and at the same time moves the valve 35v so that itwill close the exhaust port 36 and open the port 37 to permit the air toforce the liquid from the chamber 38, the liquid having filled thischamber during the expulsion of the liquid from the chamber 38' byflowing into the same through the open valve 39. The liquid is forcedfrom this chamber 38 in the same manner it is forced from the chamber31', and this alternate operation of the pump, that is, the alternateexpulsion of the liquid from the chambers, creates a constant flow ofliquid upwardly in the tube 27 Thus it will be seen that I have provideda method and apparatus for separating the oil from the inert materialand elevating the oil irrespective of the depth of the well.

It is of course to be understood that the pool of oil in the well may benatural or artificial, and in this event I dispense with the use of thenozzles and the mining solution, and use a swab and its associated partsto elevate thealready existing oil of the pool. oreover, the inventionis not confined to the elevation of oil, as has hereinbefore beenstated, but it is obvious that it is applicable to other uses with equalfacility and satisfactory results.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, acasing. a swab operable therein, a valve carried by the swab, latchmeans for holding the valve open, aspring for holding the valve closed,means carried by an upper part of the casing for opening the valve andsetting the latch, means in a lower part of the casing for releasingsaid latch to allow the spring to close the valve, and means in thelower part of the casing, controlled by the swab, for admittingcompressed gas to the casing for raising the swab.

2. Apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination acasing, means for supplying a pressure medium near the lower end of thecasing, a swab movable in the casing under the action of said pressuremedium, a valve carried by said swab to control flow through the swab, aspring for normally maintaining said valve in closed position and meansfor maintaining equal pres sure on both sides of the valve.

3. Apparatus of the character described,

comprising in combination a casing, means for supplying a pressuremedium near the lower end of the casing, a swab movable in the casingunder the action of said-pressure medium, a valve carried by sald swabto control flow through the swab, a spring for normally maintaining saidvalve in closed position and means for maintaining equal pressure onboth sides of the valve, said means including a piston secured to thevalve stem and operable in a cylinder which'is closed by the piston anda duct establishing communication between the cylinder and the casingbelow the valve.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this11th day of February, 1925.

EDWIN E. CLAYTOR.

